MMR jab 'should be made compulsory'

Children should not be allowed to go to school unless they can prove they have had the MMR vaccine, a public health expert said.

Sir Sandy Macara, former chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA), wants the MMR jab, which guards against measles, mumps and rubella, to be made compulsory.

He has submitted a motion for debate at the BMA's annual conference later this month, the BBC reported.

The number of children being given the vaccine plummeted after research wrongly linked it to an increased risk of autism.

The drop in take-up has been blamed for measles outbreaks across the country and raised fears it could lead to an epidemic.

Children should receive their first dose of the vaccine at 13 months of age and the second at around three years and four months of age.

But one in four children under five has not had both injections.

Sir Sandy said: "Our attempts to persuade people have failed. The suggestion is that we ought to consider making a link which in effect would make it compulsory for children to be immunised if they are to receive the benefit of a free education from the state."

The BBC reported that the London Strategic Health Authority asked the Government if it could introduce compulsory vaccinations, but was told the voluntary immunisation system would remain in place.

Documents obtained through a freedom of information request revealed it asked about the "feasibility of requiring an immunisation certificate for measles before children go to school".